>1. Can you mix a GNU GPL'ed OS ( Linux & Hurd ) with non-GNU GPL'ed>drivers?>>2. Can you mix a GNU GPL'ed OS ( Linux & Hurd ) with proprietary>drivers,> for which you do not have the source code, and there is not even a> glimmer of hope that you would ever have the source code?>>3. Can you mix a GNU GPL'ed OS ( Linux & Hurd ) with proprietary>drivers,> for which you do have the source code, but the source code is not> released under the GNU GPL?

[Usual disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, and this message doesnot constitute an offer of legal advice.]

These issues have been rehashed over and over again. I thinkthat if you search in DejaNews, you may be able to review some of theprior discussions: gnu.misc.discuss should be fruitful, as (to aslesser extent) will comp.os.linux.kernel. Also, this line ofnon-technical discussion might be more appropriate forcomp.os.linux.advocacy.

Summarizing: loading GPL-incompatible loadable device driversis OK in Linux. Linking GPL-incompatible device drivers into acustomized Linux kernel might be OK so long as you do not "publish ordistribute" the resulting kernel image. Linking GPL-incompatibledevice drivers into a Linux kernel and distributing the resultingkernel image (via FTP, CDROM, etc.) is probably a bad idea.